New Jersey Has A Farm With More Than 30 Clydesdales You Can Actually Ride

Regular trail rides suddenly look a little undersized.

One New Jersey farm is home to more than 30 Clydesdales, the enormous horses better known for their feathered hooves, powerful builds, and ability to make an ordinary horse look surprisingly petite.

And visitors do not have to admire these gentle giants from behind a fence.

The farm offers hour-long riding experiences aboard its Clydesdales, with rides available for different skill levels by reservation. There are also wagon rides, lessons, and opportunities to learn more about the horses.

Getting into the saddle is where things become memorable. Everything looks a little different from the back of an animal this big, including the distance to the ground.

Forget the pony ride. This countryside adventure comes with considerably more horsepower and a mane to match.

Rolling Into A Pocket Of Quiet Countryside

The drive alone sets the mood. Country roads curl past stone walls, old farmhouses and stretches of pasture, and by the time the fences of Willow Grove Farm come into view, the noise of the highway feels like a memory.

Hay, warm dust and clean shavings hang in the air. Somewhere a horse snorts, a gate clangs, and that is about as loud as things get here.

Long Valley sits in Morris County, tucked into a valley shaped by the South Branch of the Raritan River, which explains why the surrounding land looks so green and gentle. Parking is simple, the walk to the barn is short, and nobody rushes you along.

My advice is to arrive a little early. That extra fifteen minutes lets you wander toward the paddocks, watch the horses swish their tails, and settle your nerves before anyone hands you a helmet.

First impressions here are slow and easy, which is exactly the point of the whole visit.

Thirty Plus Clydesdales And Counting

Thirty is a number that sounds impressive on paper. Seeing thirty Clydesdales in one place is something else entirely, because each one stands taller than most people and weighs close to a ton.

Willow Grove Farm is widely described as the only stable in New Jersey that specializes in these particular draft horses, which makes the herd here genuinely rare for the region.

What strikes you first is the variety within the breed. Some are classic bay with four white socks, others carry broad white blazes down their faces, and a few have feathering so thick it looks like they are wearing legwarmers.

They graze in groups, lean over fences, and generally act like oversized house pets with better manners. Standing near the rail while one lowers its head toward you is humbling in the nicest way.

Bring a camera with a wide lens. Fitting an entire Clydesdale into a photo is trickier than you would expect.

Getting Up There Without The Drama

Climbing aboard a horse this tall sounds intimidating until you spot the mounting blocks. They are built extra tall for exactly this purpose, so you step up rather than haul yourself into the saddle like a movie cowboy.

Staff hold the horse steady and talk you through where to put your hands and feet. It takes about a minute.

Once you settle in, the view changes completely. Fence posts that looked normal from the ground suddenly seem low, and you can see straight across the fields toward the treeline.

The width of a draft horse spreads your legs differently than a regular saddle horse, so the seat feels surprisingly stable rather than perched. Beginners often relax faster than they expect.

Because these horses handle heavier weight comfortably, riders who felt left out at other stables are welcome here. That inclusivity is one of the quieter reasons people keep coming back to this farm year after year.

Out On The Columbia Trail

Trail time is the main event, and the route does not disappoint. Riders head out toward the Columbia Trail, a former rail line that follows the South Branch of the Raritan River through Long Valley and beyond.

Flat footing, shade from tall trees, and the sound of water moving nearby make for an easy rhythm.

A Clydesdale walks with long, unhurried strides. You feel each step through the saddle like a slow metronome, and after ten minutes your shoulders drop and your breathing slows down to match.

Guides ride along, point out landmarks, and keep the group spaced comfortably. Bald eagles have been spotted along this stretch of river, so it pays to glance skyward now and then.

Wear closed shoes with a small heel if you have them, and skip the loose scarf. Long sleeves help in summer when branches lean in over the path.

Wagon Rides For Those Who Prefer Both Feet Down

Not everyone wants a saddle, and that is completely fine. A team of Clydesdales hitched to a wagon pulls visitors along the farm lanes, and honestly the view from the bench seat is lovely in its own right.

You hear the harness jingle and the steady clop of hooves ahead of you.

Wagon rides work beautifully for grandparents, toddlers, and anyone who would rather chat than steer. Families often split the difference, with some riding the trail while others take the wagon and meet back at the barn.

Watching a matched pair work together is a small lesson in teamwork. Their ears flick, they adjust pace without much prompting, and the whole rig rolls along with surprising smoothness.

If you visit in cooler months, toss a blanket in the car. The open wagon catches the breeze, and a little extra warmth turns a nice ride into a cozy one.

Lessons That Build Real Confidence

Plenty of visitors come once and then decide they want more. Riding and driving lessons are offered here, which is unusual since most places teach on lighter horses rather than drafts.

Learning on a Clydesdale changes the whole experience. The pace is measured, the responses are steady, and there is far less anxiety about sudden movement.

Instruction covers the practical stuff too, like grooming, tacking up, and reading a horse’s body language. Kids especially soak this part up, and school or scout groups have spent mornings here learning basic horse care alongside a short ride.

Driving lessons take things further, teaching the skills needed to handle a horse in harness rather than under saddle. It is a rarer craft and genuinely fascinating to watch.

Book ahead if lessons interest you, since the schedule fills. Wear clothes you do not mind getting dusty, because barns have a way of finding fabric.

Four Seasons, Four Very Different Moods

Autumn gets all the attention here, and for good reason. Red maples and golden hickories arch over the trail, and leaf litter crunches beneath enormous hooves.

Photos taken in October practically sell themselves.

Winter, though, is the sleeper favorite. Clydesdales were bred for cold, damp weather and thick coats, so snow barely registers with them while riders bundle up in layers.

Crisp air, quiet woods, and steam rising off a horse’s back make for a scene you do not forget quickly. Spring brings mud, wildflowers and newly green pastures, while summer offers shaded stretches along the river where the temperature drops a few degrees.

The farm operates through the year, so there is no wrong season to visit, only different ones. Check the weather, dress for it, and pick a morning if you dislike heat.

Repeat visitors often come back in a different season just to see how much the trail changes.

Celebrations With A Very Large Guest Of Honor

Birthdays here come with an upgrade. Instead of the usual pony, guests get what the farm cheerfully calls giant pony rides, which means short rides aboard actual Clydesdales.

Kids light up. So do the adults, who usually ask for a turn too.

There is a barn area available to rent for gatherings, and it has hosted everything from retirement parties to family events. Picture string lights, wooden beams, and horses just beyond the doorway.

Seasonal programming includes Christmas with the Clydesdales, a holiday event where visitors can take rides and enjoy the farm in its festive form. Barn tours are also offered, giving a behind-the-scenes look at where these horses eat, rest and get groomed.

Clydesdales have even appeared at weddings arranged through the farm, standing patiently for photographs.

Planning something? Reach out well in advance, especially around holidays, because these dates tend to disappear fast.

Horses That Are Clearly Well Looked After

You can tell a lot about a barn in five minutes. Coats here are glossy, hooves are trimmed, water buckets are full, and the aisles are tidy without feeling sterile.

The horses look content, which is the detail that matters most.

That care shows up in behavior too. Calm, well-handled horses make safer rides, and guides match each person to a mount based on size and experience rather than whoever happens to be saddled.

Beyond the Clydesdales, there are other residents worth meeting, including a mini horse who is roughly the comedic opposite of everything else in the barn. Standing next to both at once is a genuinely funny sight.

Staff answer questions patiently, whether you are asking about feed, feathering, or why draft horses have such enormous feet.

Willow Grove Farm treats these animals as family rather than attractions, and that attitude filters into every part of a visit.

Planning Your Trip And What To Expect

A few practical notes make the day smoother. The farm is open Tuesday through Sunday from mid-morning into the late afternoon and closed on Mondays, so build your plans around that.

Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly on weekends and during fall foliage season.

Wear long pants, closed shoes and layers you can peel off. Sunscreen matters more than you think out on open stretches of trail, and a small bottle of water is never a bad call.

Give yourself time afterward to walk the fence lines and say hello. The horses are curious and often wander over for attention.

Long Valley itself is worth a short detour, with country roads and small-town charm around every bend, so the drive home rarely feels like a chore.

You will find Willow Grove Farm at 458 W Mill Rd, Long Valley, NJ 07853, an easy day trip and one of the most unusual outdoor experiences New Jersey has to offer.